It took some time after the 2022 Subaru BRZ debuted for the Toyota GR 86 to show itself. However, the next-gen version of Toyota’s rear-wheel-drive sports car is here, complete with official US-market specs. And it’s good news for many enthusiasts because the 2022 car answers a common plea with a bigger engine. But inevitably, some owners will likely ask for even more power. Hence why it appears that Japanese tuner HKS is already developing a GR 86 supercharger.
HKS already supercharged the last-gen Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ/Scion FR-S
Although the outgoing Toyota 86 earned high marks for its handling and balance, its powertrain had some flaws. While the 86’s 205-hp 2.0-liter boxer engine had a low center of gravity, it was somewhat coarse. And, crucially, it had a torque dip mid-way through its rev range, blunting acceleration.
One way around this was to modify the Toyota 86 via forced induction. Some owners went the turbocharged route, while others chose to supercharge. Unfortunately, the 86 arrived after Toyota discontinued its factory-warrantied TRD superchargers. But the aftermarket provided plenty of alternatives, such as the HKS GT supercharger kit.
Available for the 86, BRZ, and FR-S, the HKS GT supercharger kit is more than just a ‘blower.’ In addition to the supercharger, the kit contains an intercooler, oiling and cooling sub-system for the supercharger, charge plumbing, and an ECU piggy-back, SuperStreet explains. The tuner also offers a pulley upgrade kit that lets the engine run on E85.
How much horsepower and torque the HKS supercharger kit adds varies based on fuel octane and individual ECU tuning. But the tuner claims the kit’s good for 255 hp on 91-octane gasoline. MotorTrend found the kit added “roughly 75 hp…with only slight tweaks.” And with the optional GT2 fuel and intercooler upgrades, an HKS-supercharged 86 can make up to 298 hp, Motor1 reports.
The 2022 Toyota GR 86 has a more powerful engine, but HKS wants to give it more juice
While it’s too early to tell if the 2022 Toyota GR 86 has a smoother engine than its predecessor, it assuredly has a larger one. Instead of a 2.0-liter flat-four engine, the updated car has a 2.4-liter flat-four engine. And more displacement means more power. In US-market form, the 2022 GR 86 has 228 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque, just like the 2022 BRZ.
That extra horsepower and torque make a noticeable difference in straight-line performance. Equipped with the six-speed manual, the 2022 GR 86 is 0.9 seconds faster to 60 mph than the 2020 car, The Drive reports. And while the automatic car is slower, the 2022 model is still over a second faster to 60 mph than the 2020 model. But it seems HKS wants to make the new car faster still.
The ‘HKS GR 86’ hosts several upgrades over the standard 2022 car. It has a new front splitter and canards, rear diffuser, rear wing, and side skirts. Underneath is a lightweight sports exhaust system with a titanium-wrapped tip, custom wheels, and HKS Hipermax S coil-over suspension. Inside are Bride sport bucket seats. And under the hood is an HKS supercharger kit with an upgraded ‘GT2’ blower.
When will this kit be available?
As of this writing, the HKS GR 86 is still a concept car, and exact horsepower and torque figures aren’t known. And while the tuner is working on parts for the new car, it hasn’t revealed any official release dates.
It’s worth noting that part of the outgoing 86’s appeal was its naturally aspirated simplicity. And while it’s not as powerful as the turbocharged Supra 2.0, the GR 86 will likely be significantly more affordable. Hence the lack of forced induction. But as with the previous-gen cars, it’s likely HKS won’t be the only tuner offering ways to eke out more performance.
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